Ballast cleaning apparatus



Feb. 10, 1942. F. H. PHILBRICK 2,272,429

BALLAST CLEANING APPARATUS Filed May 1, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 A Fara/kiif/zz/rzck jg 445M Feb. 10, 1942. F. H. PHILBRICK 2,272,429

BALLAST CLEANING APPARATUS F iled May 1, 1941 5 Sheets-Sh eet 2 Feb. 10, 1942. F. H. PHILBRICK 2,272,429

BALLAST CLEANING APPARATUS Filed May 1, 1941 s Sheets-Sheet 5 a? Feb. 10, 1942. F. H. PHILBRICK I BALLAST CLEANING APPARATUS Filed May 1, 1941 s Sheets- Sheet 4 Feb 9 1942" F. H. PHILBRICK BALLAST CLEANING APPARATUS Filed May 1, 1941 s Sheets-She et 5 Patented Feb. 10, 1942 S'l'l' ATE? PIC 20 Claims.

The invention relates to apparatus for handling ballast for railroad tracks.

One object of the invention is to provide improved means for feeding the ballast which has been removed from the cribs between the ties to one side of the track, together with some of the shoulder ballast, to the elevator for delivering the ballast to the cleaner.

Another object of the invention is to provide an elevator, the lower end of which is adapted to be raised and lowered and carries a gathering device which can be raised and lowered with the lower end of the elevator.

Another object of the invention is to provide eificient means for handling railroad ballast which has been displaced to the sides of the track, delivering the ballast to a cleaner and delivering the ballast back to the roadbed.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings: Fig. l is a side elevation of ballast cleaning apparatus embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective of the device for spreading and levelling the ballast on the roadbed after it has been cleaned. Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on line 3 3 of Fig. 1, illustrating the conveyor for delivering the screenings to one side of the roadbed. Fig. 4 is a front elevation of one of the rotary devices for feeding the ballast to the bucket elevator. Fig. 5 is a transverse section through the lower end of one of the elevators and the device which is carried by the elevator for feeding the ballast from the roadbed to the elevator. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective of one of the bucket members of the elevator. Fig. '7 is a perspective of one of the members between the bucket members. Fig. 8 is a section taken on line 88 of Fig. 5. Fig. 9 is a front elevation of the lower portion of one of the bucket elevators, the casing or frame of the elevator being shown in section. Fig. 10 is a transverse -section on line Iii-40 of Fig. 1. Fig. 11 is a longitudinal section on line HH of Fig. 10.

The apparatus for cleaning the ballast is supported on a truck or car which comprises a suitable frame a supported by wheels at adapted to run on the rails h of the track. The truck is equipped with an internal combustion engine 0 for supplying power for propelling the truck and for driving the ballast conveying mechanism and cleaner. The mechanism driven by the engine 0 comprises (Figs. 10 and 11) a sprocket c on the engine shaft, a chain c driven by sprocket c, a sprocket c driven by said chain, and speed reducing gearing d driven by sprocket 0 The engine is provided with the usual transmission gearing controlled by a lever 0 so that the operation and direction of rotation of sprocket 0 may be selectively controlled. A sprocket chain (1' is driven by the output shaft of gearing d by a sprocket d and drives a sprocket d on a shaft e which is journaled in, and supported by, a frame 1. Shaft e drives by a gear e fixed thereon and a gear e meshing with gear 6' which is fixed on a shaft e journaled in frame I. The truck propelling mechanism is driven by shaft e and comprises a sprocket e fixed to shaft e a chain e driven by sprocket e a sprocket e driven by chain e loose on the input shaft g of a worm-gear speed reduction gearing g which is supported under the truck frame a and is adapted to be driven through a clutch e by sprocket e. A sprocket g on shaft 9 drives a chain 9' which drives a sprocket wheel g on the axle of the rear truck wheels a. A sprocket g on shaft g drives a chain g which drives a sprocket g on the axle of the front truck wheels a. Clutch 6'' on shaft 9' is adapted to couple sprocket wheel e to shaft g for selectively propelling the truck.

A rotary screen It for cleaning the ballast is provided with a shaft h which is journaled at its front end in a bearing 71. on frame and at its rear end in a bearing n which is supported by a bracket 11 on the truck-frame a. Screen 71. and its shaft h are driven from shaft e by a universal shaft 7L Sprocket n drives shaft 11. a chain it drives sprocket b and a sprocket h drives chain h Shaft e is driven as hereinbefore described. The rotary screen is inclined downwardly and rearwardly from its front end so that the ballast delivered into its front end will pass downwardly and the dirt will be separated from the ballast and discharged through the screen while the cleaned ballast will be discharged through the rear or lower end of the screen. A hopper 11. integrally formed with frame f is adapted to conduct the ballast into the upper or front end of the screen from the elevators hereinafter described.

The invention provides for the delivery to the screen of the ballast which has been previously removed from the cribs between the ties to the sides of the track adjacent the ends of the ties and the shoulder ballast. The mechanism for this purpose comprises means for feeding the ballast at each side of the track to bucket elevators which discharge ballast into the hopper 11. for delivery to the rotary screen It. A feed device and a coacting elevator are provided at each side of the machine so that the ballast from both sides may be similarly gathered and elevated. These elevators and feed devices are similar in construction so that a description of one applies to both.

Each elevator comprises an elevator-leg or frame which comprises a front side and a rear side 2| and a shell i9 between said sides. The frame of the elevator is provided with a spout [9 for discharging the ballast into hopper h The upper end of each of said frames is pivotally mounted on a longitudinally extending shaft 22 which is supported on frame I in bearings 23. Each elevator comprises a pair of sprocket-wheels 24 fixed to a shaft 22; a lower longitudinally extending shaft 25 which is journaled in a bracket 26 fixed to the lower end of the side 2| of the elevator-leg; a pair of integral sprockets 21 keyed to lower shaft 25; and

a pair of sprocket-chains 28 between sprockets 24 and 2'1. Each pair of chains 28 has connected thereto an endless series of conveyor members It for elevating the ballast from one side of the track and discharging it at the upper end of the elevator into the hopper h and drives the lower sprockets 27 and the lower shaft 25. The elevator at one side of the machine is driven by a sprocket-wheel 30 fixed to shaft e, a chain 3| driven by sprocket 35, a sprocket-wheel 32 loose on said shaft 22, and a clutch 33, controlled by a lever 34, which is adapted to couple sprocket 32 to said shaft 22. The elevator at the other side of the machine is driven by similar gearing from the shaft e Each shaft 25 carries and is adapted to rotate a device for feeding the ballast to the front side of the elevator buckets as they travel around with the lower sprockets 21. Each of these devices comprises a cylindrical shell 37 which projects forwardly from the elevator and is coaxial with shaft 25; a forwardly tapered conical member 35 which is keyed to shaft 25; and a series of helicoidal blades 36 welded to member 35.

Shell 31, blades 36 and conical member 35 ro- I tate with and are driven by shaft 25. The front edge of the cylindrical shell is provided with teeth 38, and the front edges of .blades 36 are also provided with teeth 39 so they will easily separate the ballast from the roadbed. teeth are adapted to produce relative movement between the rocks in the ballast to facilitate the separation of the ballast from the roadbed, for entry into the front end of the shell for delivery to the buckets. As the machine is propelled over the track, the rotation of the teeth on the shell 31 and on the blades 35 also effects a loosening of the ballast for entry into the shell and passage to the elevator. If desired, scoops 40, which are carried by and fixed to the elevator-frame may be used to direct the ballast toward the open front end of the shell 31. It has been found desirable to avoid the use of an outboard or stationary bearing for the shell 31 and blades 35 which obstructs the front of the cylindrical shell 3? and the invention provides a comparatively short shell and blades which are supported entirely at their rear ends by the lower elevator shaft 25. The bearing 26 for shaft 25 extends into the rear end of the hub of sprockets 21,

These as at 26, to provide adequate stability for this purpose. The conical member 35 deflects the ballast to the path of travel of the elevator buckets. For preventing the ballast from passing to the inside of the carrier members of the elevator and in the path of the chains 28, a rotatable disk 42 is secured to the front end of the hub of sprockets 21 in spaced relation from the inner end of the conical member 35 and a stationary plate 43 has the lower end curved to conform to and fit the periphery of disk 42. Plate 43 is fixedly supported from the sides 20, 2| of the elevator-leg, by sleeves 44 on bolts 45 (Fig. 5).

The carrier members is are adapted to prevent ballast or dirt from being caught between them or passing therethrough while they are passing around with lower sprockets 21. Each member it comprises a base or wall having a central transversely extending portion k, which is attached by rivets 45 to the aligned links of each pair of chains 28 and cylindrical curved portions W, W, which are adapted to lap and be overlapped by the complementary base portions, respectively, of contiguous members. These overlapping curved portions permit relative pivotal movement of contiguous members while they and the chain-links are traveling around with sprockets and maintain a close fitting relation between the buckets at all times. As a result, it will be impossible for ballast or dirt to be caught between the members k, particularly when they are moving in a circular path with sprockets 21. Each member 7c is also provided with offset inwardly extending integral flanges k and k which respectively overlap the complementary flanges of contiguous buckets. These flanges travel between disk 42 and the inner end of conical member 35. Flanges engage the front face of disk 42 and serve as thrustmembers against disk 42 and plate 43 to prevent the rearward pressure of the ballast, as the machine advances, from deflecting the buckets rearwardly while they are traveling with the sprockets 21 and while they are traveling through the lower portion of the elevator-leg. These flanges also prevent dirt from passing between the members k and the disk 42 and plate 43. Each alter.- nate member is also comprises longitudinally offset outwardly extending flanges k and k which form the rear sides of the bucket, an integral outwardly extending flange k which forms the front side of the bucket, and an integral wall k extending obliquely from the base between the flanges at the sides of the bucket which forms the bottom of the bucket. Flanges 70 k of the buckets form a wall which remains continuous throughout the leg. Flanges k are offset rearwardly with respect to the front flanges R 70 to provide spaces between them for the entry of the ballast from shell 31 into the buckets. This elevator construction exemplifies one which is particularly adapted for receiving ballast from the shell 31 at its front side and for elevating the ballast in such a manner that the ballast will at no time become clogged between the buckets. The elevator shell I9 which extends across the inner side thereof and around the lower and upper portions of the leg, confines the ballast to the path of travel of the buckets.

To permit the elevators and the ballast feeding devices to swing upwardly and clear the roadbed while transporting the truck on the rails, the housing of each elevator is adapted to swing vertically on its shaft 22 and a lifting mechanism is provided for the elevators and the ballast feeding devices therefor. Each of these lifting mechanisms comprises a drum or winch 4! and a cable 48 which is adapted to be wound onto and off the drum, passes around an overhead sheave 49, and is secured at 50 to the elevator-leg. Each drum 4'! is loosely mounted on its shaft 22. A clutch 5| controlled by a lever 52 is adapted to couple the drum 41 to shaft 22, so the elevators may be raised by power from said shafts. The sides 20, 2| of each elevator-leg fit between extensions 53 on supporting frame 1 so that when the elevators are lowered into operative position, the legs' will be supported against rearward thrust.

The ballast is discharged from the lower end of screen h into a chute 55 which discharges it onto the roadbed between the rails and the ties and deflects a portion to the shoulder outside each rail. An apron 56 is fixed to the lower end of arms 51 which are pivoted to the rear of the truck-frame at 58, and is adapted to spread and level off the cleaned ballast on the roadbed as the truck advances along the track. The

apron is pivotally supported so that it may be raised to an inoperative position when the cleaning apparatus is not in operation and so it will not interfere with the transportation of the truck.

The dirt which escapes from the screen h drops into a hopper 59 onto a cross-conveyor 60 (Fig. 3 which is adapted to carry the dirt to the usual shoulder along one side of the roadbed. This endless belt is driven from the shaft g and its frame comprises a fixed section 6! secured to the truck-frame and an outwardly extending section 62 which may be swung into vertical position when the conveyor is not in use.

The operation of the machine will beas follows: the truck will be propelled to a point along the track at which the ballast has been removed from the cribs between the ties to the sides of the track and beyond the ends of the ties- One or both of the elevator-legs will then be lowered from their raised position illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 3 to the position illustrated in full lines or until the shells 31 at the lower ends of the elevators dig into the ballast at the sides of the track. Clutches 35 will then be coupled to shafts 22 by levers 34 so that shafts 22 will be .5;-

drical shell 31 and the toothed edges of the helicoidal blades 36 will penetrate and loosen the ballast at the sides of the track. Blades 36 will feed and ballast rearwardly through shell 3'! to the front of the endless series of carrier-members k. The inturned flanges is, k of carrier-memhers is, disk 42, and plate 43 will prevent the ballast from passing to the space within the carriermembers and to the elevator sprockets and chains 28. Conical member 35 will direct the ballast to the front side of the elevator buckets, and between front fianges it so that the ballast will be fed into the buckets and be elevated, discharged through spouts I9 and delivered into hopper h The ballast will then pass into the rotating screen h where the dirt will be separated therefrom so the ballast will be cleaned before it is discharged from the screen into chute 55 which delivers the cleaned ballast back to the roadbed. The dirt removed from the ballast by the screen will be discharged through hopper 59 onto conveyor 60 and be delivered beyond the usual shoulder of the roadbed. As the machine advances, the apron 56 will spread and level the cleaned ballast over the roadbed. The elevator at either side may be operated independently of the other, their driving mechanisms being separately controlled by lever 34 and clutches 33. When it is desired to transport the machines on the trackrails, the drums 41 can be operated by power under control of levers 52 to lift the elevators and ballast feeding devices into the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3.

The invention exemplifies ballast handling apparatus: in which the devices for feeding the ballast from the side of the track to the lower end of the elevator effectively loosens the ballast and delivers it to the elevator buckets; in which the cylindrical shell and helicoidal blades are coaxial with the lower shaft of the elevator which extends longitudinally of the track; in which the carrying-members of the elevators are construed to receive the ballast from the feed device without becoming clogged; in which a relatively short cylindrical shell and blades have their front ends unobstructed and are supported entirely by the elevator so that an outward hearing may be dispensed with; in which the devices for gathering and feeding the ballast to the lower ends of the elevator aresupported by the elevator and are adapted to be raised and lowered therewith; and which is efficient in operation and has a high capacity in handling the ballast. I

While the machine has been described with an elevator and feed device at each side of the machine, it will be understood that the invention may be utilized in apparatus witha single elevator and feed device The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth, since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and a scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Pat ent is:

mounted on and at one side of the structure, and

comprising a shaft at its lower end extending longitudinally of the track, a rotatable cylindrical shell coaxial with the shaft, for conducting the ballast at one side of the track, longitudinally of the shaft to the front side of the elevator, and means for driving the shell from the shaft.

2. In a ballast handling machine, the combination with a supporting structure adapted to travel on the rails of a track, of a power-driven endless chain and bucket elevator for the ballast, mounted on and at one side of the structure, and comprising a shaft at its lower end extending longitudinally of the track, a rotatable cylindrical shell coaxial with the shaft and supported from the lower end of the elevator, for conducting the ballast at one side of the track longitudinally to the front side of the elevator, and means for driving the shell from the shaft.

3. In a ballast handling machine, the combination with a supporting structure adapted to travel on the rails of a track, of a power-driven endless chain and bucket elevator for the ballast, mounted on and at one side of the structure, and comprising a driven shaft at its lower end extending longitudinally of the track, and rotatable helical blades coaxial with and supported by the shaft for feeding the ballast at one side of the track to the front side of the elevator.

4. In a ballast handling machine, the combination with a supporting structure adapted to travel on the rails of a track, of a power-driven endless chain and bucket elevator for the ballast, mounted on and at one side of the structure, and comprising a shaft at its lower end extending longitudinally of the track, a rotatable cylindrical shell coaxial with the shaft and supported from the lower end of the elevator for conducting the ballast at one side of the track to the front side of the elevator, a rotatable conical member in the shell, and means for driving the shell and the conical member from the shaft.

5. In a ballast handling machine, the combination with a supporting structure adapted to travel on the rails of a track, of a power-driven endless chain and bucket elevator for the ballast, mounted on and at one side of the structure, and comprising a shaft at its lower end extending longitudinally of the track, a rotatable cylindrical shell coaxial with the shaft and supported from the lower end of the elevator for conducting the ballast at one side of the track to the front side of the elevator, a rotatable conical member in the shell, feed blades between the shell and the conical member, and means for driving the shell, blades and conical member from the shaft.

6. In a ballast handling machine, the combination with a supporting structure adapted to travel on the rails of a track, of a power-driven chain and bucket elevator for the ballast, mounted on and at one side of the structure, comprising a shaft at its lower end extending longitudinally of the track, and a cylindrical shell for conducting the ballast at one side of the track longitudinally of the shaft to the front side of the elevator, said shell being mounted on and rotatable with said shaft.

'7. In a ballast handling machine, the combination with a supporting structure adapted to travel on the rails of a track, of a power-driven endless chain and bucket elevator for the ballast, mounted on and at one side of the structure, comprising a shaft at its lower end extending longitudinally of the track, a cylindrical shell for conducting the ballast at one side of the track longitudinally of the shaft to the front side of the elevator, and rotatable blades in the shell, said shell and blades and hub being mounted on and rotatable with said shaft.

8. In a ballast handling machine, the combination with a supporting structure adapted to travel on the rails of a track, of a power-driven endless chain and bucket elevator for the ballast, mounted on and at one side of the structure, comprising a shaft at its lower end extending longitudinally of the track, a cylindrical shell for conducting the ballast at one side of the track longitudinally of the shaft to the front side of the elevator, rotatable blades in the shell, and a conical hub for the blades, said shell, blades and hub being mounted on and rotatable with said shaft.

9. In a ballast handling machine, the combination with a structure adapted to travel on the rails of a track, of a power-driven endless chain and bucket elevator mounted on and at one side of the structure, for elevating ballast at one side of the track, a pivotal support for the upper end of the elevator to permit its lower end to be raised and lowered, a longitudinally extending rotatable cylindrical shell for conducting the ballast to the front of the lower end of the elevator, said shell being supported by and movable with the lower end of the elevator, and means for driving the shell.

10. In a ballast handling machine, the combination with a structure adapted to travel on the rails of a track, of a power-driven endless chain and bucket elevator mounted on and at one side of the structure, for elevating ballast at one side of the track, a pivotal support for the upper end of the elevator to permit its lower end to be raised and lowered, the elevator comprising a longitudinally extending shaft, rotatable blades on the shaft for feeding the ballast to the front of the lower end of the elevator, said blades being supported on the shaft and movable with the lower end of the elevator, and means for driving the blades.

11. In a ballast handling machine, the combination with a structure adapted to travel on the rails of a track, of a power-driven endless chain and bucket elevator mounted on and at one side of the structure, for elevating ballast at one side of the track, a pivotal support for the upper end of the elevator to permit its lower end to be raised and lowered, a longitudinally extending rotatable cylindrical shell for conductin the ballast to the front of the lower end of the elevator, rotatable blades in the shell for feeding the ballast to the front of the lower end of the elevator, said shell and blades being supported by and movable with the lower end of the elevator, and means for driving the shell and blades.

12. In a ballast handling machine, the combination with a structure adapted to travel on the rails of a track, of a power-driven endless chain and bucket elevator mounted on and at one side of the structure, for elevating ballast at one side of the track, a pivotal support for the upper end of the elevator to permit its lower end to be raised and lowered, a longitudinally extending rotatable cylindrical shell for conducting the ballast to the front of the lower end of the elevator, rotatable blades in the shell for feeding the ballastto the front of the lower end of the elevator, a conical member in the shell, said shell, blades and conical member being supported by and mov able with the lower end of the elevator, and means for driving the shell, blades and conical member.

13. In a ballast handling machine, the combination with a portable structure adapted to travel on the rails of a track, of a power-driven chain and bucket elevator for the ballast, mounted on and at one side of the structure, for elevating ballast at one side of the track, a cylindrical shell for conducting ballast to the front side of the elevator, having its front edge provided with teeth, and means for driving the shell from the lower end of the elevator.

14. In a ballast handling machine, the combination with a portable structure adapted to travel on rails on a track, of a power-driven chain and bucket elevator for the ballast, mounted on and at one side of the structure, for elevating ballast at one side of the track, a cylindrical shell for conducting ballast to the front side of the elevator, having its front edge provided with teeth, helical blades in the shell for feeding theballast through the shell to the front side of the elevator, provided at its front edge with teeth, and means for driving the shell and the blades from the lower end of the elevator.

15. In ballast handling apparatus, the combination with a portable supporting structure adapted to travel on the rails of a track, of a power-driven chain and bucket elevator mounted on and at one side of the structure, for elevating ballast at one side of the track, comprising shafts extending longitudinally of the track, a rotatable cylindrical shell for conducting ballast to the front side of the lower end of the elevator, means for rotatably supporting the shell entirely from the lower end of the elevator, and means for driving the shell from said shaft.

16. In ballast handling apparatus, the combination with a portable supporting structure adapted to travel on the rails of a track, of a power-driven chain and bucket elevator mounted on and at one side of the structure, for elevating ballast at one side of the track, comprising shafts extending longitudinally of the track, a rotatable cylindrical shell for conducting ballast to the front side of the elevator, helical blades for feeding the ballast through the shell, and means for rotatably supporting the shell and blades entirely, and driving them from the lower end of the elevator.

17. In a ballast handling machine, the combination with a supporting structure adapted to travel on the rails of a track, of a power-driven chain and bucket elevator, comprising upper and lower shafts extending longitudinally of the track, and a housing, means for conducting and feeding ballast longitudinally to the front side of the lower end of the elevator, and means for supporting and driving the conducting and feeding means from the lower end of the elevator.

18. In a ballast handling machine, the combination with a supporting structure adapted to travel on the rails of a track, of a power-driven chain and bucket elevator, comprising upper and lower shafts extending longitudinally of the track,

and a housing, a rotatable shell and blades for conducting and feeding ballast longitudinally to the front side of the lower end of the elevator, and means for supporting and driving the shell and blades from the lower end of the elevator.

19. In a ballast handling machine, the combination with a portable supporting structure adapted to travel on the rails of a track, of a power-driven elevator comprising a frame, an endless chain, upper and lower shafts, sprockets on the shaft, and carrier-members individually secured to the links of the chain, each member comprising a base having portions overlapping the bases of contiguous members, a front end flange having offset portions extending radially inward from the base and overlapping like flanges on contiguous carriers, a rear end flange extending outwardly from the base, having offset portions overlapping like flanges of contiguous carriers, a front flange extending radially outward from the base, inwardly of the front end of the carrier, and a wall between the front and rear outwardly extending flanges forming a bucket bottom, and means for feeding ballast to the front ends of the members.

20. In a ballast handling machine, the combination with a portable supporting structure adapted to travel on the rails of a track, of a power-driven elevator comprising a frame, an endless chain, upper and lower shafts, sprockets on the shafts, and carrier-members individually secured to the links of the chain, each member comprising a base having portions overlapping the bases of contiguous members, a front end flange having offset portions extending radially inward from the base and overlapping like flanges on contiguous carriers, a rear end flange extending outwardly from the base having offset portions overlapping like flanges of contiguous carriers, a front flange extending radially outward from the base, inwardly of the front end of the carrier, and a wall between the front and rear outwardly extending flanges forming a bucket bottom, a disk on the lower shaft overlapping the inwardly extending front end flanges, and means for feeding ballast to the front ends of the members.

FRANK I-I PHILBRICK. 

